Anheuser Busch – Phase 5 Acquisition

Location: The project is located north of Baxter Road and east of Menifee Road in unincorporated Riverside County.
RCA Area: Southwest Area Plan – Subunit 5 – French Valley/Lower Sedco Hills, Rough Step 6.
Size: 73.45 acres.
Plant Communities in the area: Coastal Sage Scrub, Grasslands.
Species for Conservation: Bell’s Sage Sparrow, California Horned Lark, Coastal California Gnatcatcher, Grasshopper Wparrow, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, Los Angeles Pocket Mouse, Bobcat, and Western Pond Turtle.

Importance:

The Anheuser Busch Phase 5 property consists of approximately 73.45 acres and is located immediately north of previously conserved lands, east of the City of Murrieta.

This property was acquired by RCA on January 19, 2016 with funds from the Riverside County Transportation Commission.  The property is located within Cell 5367 of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (Western Riverside County MSHCP).

The Anheuser property contains important biological resources, including vital Coastal Sage and Grassland habitat.

Wildlife and Habitat Value:

The subject property is located in a critical conservation area within the Western Riverside County MSHCP, identified as Core 2. This property connects to conserved lands to the east and south. Conservation of this land helps assemble the reserve for this area and protect important habitat for many species, including Coastal California Gnatcatcher, and Quino Checkerspot Butterfly.